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Poverty to Prosperity
Budget Presentation
Gordon House March 19, 2015
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is a resolution on the order paper in his name and when it is being debated we will give
more details as to the proposed structure of this health insurance scheme.
In 2009, former Prime Minister Golding had outlined the position of Labour Party
administration, with respect to funding the Free Access to Healthcare Policy. The
commitment was given to dedicate the fees from the renewal of casino licenses to health.
That commitment still stands and those fees would now form an income stream to the
National Health Insurance for Wellness Advancement (NHIWA)
. This approach
represents a more reliable, equitable and affordable framework for financing the delivery of
public healthcare in Jamaica. No one will have to worry about the inconvenience or sheer
humiliation of having financial considerations standing between them and treatment at the
time of need.
Mr. Speaker, while the state is responsible for the provision of health care, we must
reinforce the point that every citizen is responsible for his or her own health. We are
personally responsible for our health. Information and education improves our ability to
make better choices in exercise of this responsibility. The measure of a great health system
is not the number of illnesses it cures, but rather, the reduction of disease within the
population. Simply put, prevention is better than cure.
Mr. Speaker, the 2012 SLC notes that approximately 25.8 of persons surveyed reported that
they had a chronic non-communicable disease, such as diabetes, heart disease,
hypertension, arthritis, or asthma. While this was the same as in 2010, more Jamaicans are
reporting having 2 or more of these conditions.